.L i b. 5 



Of the Hiftorie of Plants. 



3 There is found alio another plant growing vpon the boughes or branches of trees, in mancr 

 as our Miflel toe doth, and may very well be reckoned as a kind thereof: the plant cleaues vnto tbc 

 branches, being fct thereto as it were with the pillingsofthc fca Onion , of the bred th of a mans 

 hand toward the bottomland (otnewhat hollow : the tops whereof are very final! and rufliy,hcf!Iovr 

 likewife,and of a purple colour : among which comes forth a branch like that oft! *U Rep^ or 

 Kings fpeare 3 refembling the bufh of Otc$,Couercd with a white filk fuch as is to be found in Af<U* 

 f iss pi a fait and nitrous tailc,and very vnpleafant. 



•J The Place. 



The firft kinJeofMifTcltocgrowcthvponOkes and diucrsorher trees almoftcucry where* as 

 for the other two they arc (1 rangers in Engknd. 





^[ 7 be Time. 





Miffeltoe isalwaies grcenc as well in winter as fummer : the berries are ripe in Autumne > thcy 

 nam a!! winter thorow.and arc a food for diuers birds,as Thrufhcs,Black-birds,&: Ring doues. 



remain 



^| T^c Name* . 



Mifleltocis called in Greek, "if*, and •!{.«.• in Laciae,F{/£«f* : inhigh-Dutch,£kr)tffcl( : id Low- 

 Dotcb^arcntacfccn : in Italian, J'//£A/* ; in Spani(h,£/g4 ; in the Portugal tonguc/'/£# in En- 



glirt^MiileUnd Miifeltoe. 



Theglucwhich is made of the berries of Miflcl is likewifc called Vtfcum^dixia: in Ertglifh, 

 Bird-lime. Ixi.\ is alfo called Chameleon albus, by rcafon of the glue which is oft times found about 

 the root thereof. This word isalfo ateribed to cham*Uonnigcr y g% wecreadcamon^ft the baftard 

 names, tkid is likewifc reckoned vpby Diofcoridcsjib. 6. and by Paulus ^fgwctajlit. 5 amongft the 

 poifons : butwhattlm poifonfomcand venomous Ixta is it is hard and dou[)tfull todcclarcmany 

 would hauc it to be chamdeon nig er :othcrs,the glue or clammy fubftance wh ich is made of rhe ber- 

 ries of Miflfcltoc ;whodo truly tfiinke that IxU diffcrcth from Cbamdeovnigcr • for Paulus */£ ne- 

 tdjit. 5. cap. 30. in reckoning vp of fimple poifons hath firft made mention of CkdMdUon niger-thcn 

 a little after of IxU ■ and whileft he doth particularly difcourfc of euery one, he treatethofC/w**- 

 tton Mgcrf4p.$2 . and of IxU which he alfonamcth vUphonon, eap.47.inA tcllcth the dangerous 

 and far differing accidents of them both. And Diofcorides himfclfc,//£. 6. where he fettcth down his 

 Judgment of (imple poifons,intreateth dxftot Cbamtlcw niger^nd then a little after of Ixu. Ibefc 

 things declafe that CbamJeonptiger differs from Av/<*,which is reckoned among the poifons. Morc- 

 oucr,it can no where be read, that cbam^Uon Niger bcarcttx Bird- lime,or hath fo glutinous or dam. 

 my a fubftance as that itought to be called Jx/<rthcrfore ixU^s it is one of the poifons,is the glue 

 that is made of the berries of Mi (Tcltoe.which becaufe it is {harp and bi tifig,inflamcdi and fettcth 

 the tongue on fire^nd with his fliray and clammy fubftance doth fodraw together, fluit, and glue 

 vp the guts 3 as that there is no paffage for theexcreraents,which things are mentioned among the 

 mifchiefesthat IxU bringeth. 



t I can by' rto means approucof,dr yeeld to this opinion here deliucred out of Dodontus by our 

 Author . which is, That the Bird- lime made of the berries of Miflcltoe is poifon ; or that IxU fet 

 forth by Diofcorides and ^(jcandcr for a poifon is meant of this ; for this is manifeftly treated of in 

 ttiofcondesjit. 5 .ca. 1 03 . by the name of •*&; ■ when as the other is mentioned, lit. 6. cap. 2 1 . by the 

 naificof igfe Alfodaily experience (hewes this plant to hauc no maligneor poifonous, but rather 

 a contrariefacultie,being frequently vfed in medicines againft the Epilepfie. Such as would fee 

 more concerning Ixiaot Ixias Jet thcmh&ue rccourfe to the firft chapter of the firft part of Fatiu* 

 Columaaje Stirpib.min.cogmtis & rariorHus^herc they dial I finde it large ly treated of. $ 



^[ Tbc Natur eand Vert ues. 



The leaues and berries of Mi (Telto are hot and dry,and of fubtill parts : the B ird-limc is hot and 

 biting,atid confifts of an airy and watery fubftance,with fome earthy quality 5 for according to the 

 Judgement of Galcn,his acrimony ouercommeth his bitternefte • for if it be vfed in outward appli- 

 cations^ draweth humdrs from the deepeft or moft fecret parts of the body 3 fpreading and difper. 

 fing them abroad, and digefting them. 



It ripenetb fwelfings in the groin,hard fwcllings bchinde the cares,and other impoftumes,be- 

 *ng tempered with rofin and a little quantitic of wax. 



With Frankincenfe it mollifieth old vlcers and malitious impoftumcs 3 bcingboiIed with vn- C 

 flaked limc,or witfii G agate lapideot Apo,And applied, it waftctb away the hardnefle of the fpleen. 



With Orpment or Sandaracha it taketh away foulc ilfauored nailcs, being mixed with vnflaked & 

 Jime and wine lees it recciueth greater force. 



It hath been moft credibly reported vnto me,That a few of tbc berries of Miffeltoebruifed and S 

 fiwined into oiie and drunken,hath prefently and forthwith rid a grieuous and fore Ritcb* 



A 



B 





» -«?W A, ^?v J?w fr- 



mtm 



Chap- 





